Dakota Fanning: stop attacking my mum over Hounddog rape scene

Friday January 26th, 2007 at 12:25 pm by Lucy

Dakota Fanning has hit back at commentators that have criticised her family for allowing her to film a scene for new movie Hounddog.

Several religious groups have claimed the film “celebrates paedophilia” because it features 12 year old Dakota’s character being raped. The scene lasts less than a minute and doesn’t show any long shots of the sex act, just close ups of Dakota’s face and hands.

Speaking in an interview on Tuesday, Dakota said: “It’s not a rape movie, that’s not even the point of the film.”

“It’s not really happening. It’s a movie, and it’s called acting. I’m not going through anything. [The other child actors] Cody and Isabelle aren’t going through anything, their characters are. And for me, when it’s done it’s done. I don’t even think about it anymore.”

Dakota can handle constructive criticism of the film but: “when it gets to the point of attacking my mother, my agent … my teacher, who were all on the set that day, that started to make me mad.”

“Pretty much everybody who talked about it attacked my mother, which I did not appreciate. That was extremely uncalled for and hurtful.”

Dakota added that she would want to see the film even if she had not been in it: “I know my mom would take me to see it.”

“You have to prepare your children for things that happen in the world. Everything isn’t rosy.”

Comments

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ottoJanuary 26, 2007 15:11

What I find truly disturbing is that the yoyos protesting this movie, without even bothering to actually see what it is they’re protesting, apparently have no problem with young actors potraying children who suffer through such atrocities as violence, poverty, neglect, murder etc etc. For some reason they prefer focusing on anything related to sex, which of course is a dirty subject no one should ever discuss. For example, they have no problem with Ralph Fiennes senselessly murdering young Jewish children in a concentration camp in Schindler’s List, but tear their hair out at the thought that Dakota Fanning would dare to portray a young girl being raped. No, that just won’t do.

As people begin to actually see this movie, those who chose to condemn the makers of Hounddog before seeing it for themselves and getting all the facts straight are being shown for the idiots they truly are, many continuing to live in denial of the facts.

Sean Hannity is perhaps the best example, as last Monday he interviewed someone who saw the movie at its premiere at Sundance. I forget the lady’s name, but I believe she was introduced as a conservative District Attorney and a child advocate for 30 years, so Hannity was a bit surprised when she revealed that all the negative claims about Dakota’s infamous rape scene simply aren’t true. According to her, all we see is Dakota from her shoulders on up and the guy’s arm. There is no touching, and the rape is actually achieved through editing tricks, and not on the set as some have claimed. She explained that it occurs more in the viewer’s mind than in the movie.

But Hannity was not satisfied, claiming that what she saw was a “sanitized” version, and that he wanted to see everything that was left on the cutting room floor. Um, right, Sean. You haven’t seen the movie, you weren’t involved in the editing process, you weren’t involved in the production whatsoever, yet you somehow know what “really” went on. What a jackass.

But probably the most disturbing evidence of these people’s dangerous mindset is what Catholic League president Bill Donohue, who is pushing for a federal investigation of the film to see if child pornography laws were being violated during shooting, said on CNN last Monday. He said that if this was not Dakota, but some unknown 12-year old actress who was involved in a rape scene, he wouldn’t even bother with it. Unbelievable.

Obviously, this is all about exploiting Dakota’s popularity and success to push their agenda, and has nothing whatsoever to do with a 12-year old being raped onscreen.

Finally, as reported by the Associated Press: Dakota herself sums it all up for us.

“It’s not really happening,” Fanning said of the rape. “It’s a movie, and it’s called acting.”

C.J.January 27, 2007 21:32

Wow. Dakota is definitely right. The world isn’t all rosy, and rape is definitely a real thing that needs to be more openly addressed instead of brushed under the rug.

Dakota seemed to get a little sarcastic here, but oh well, I don’t blame her. It’s nice to hear HER opinion of it, instead of everyone else’s nitpicking and judging. She is definitely mature and obviously handled it well.

ChrisFebruary 15, 2007 22:12

Dakota is an extremely good actress and and i am glad that about what she said its tru.
Well said kota u keep right on.

xxx

anonymous June 05, 2009 13:29

Dakota is absolutely right. I totally agree with her statement. ‘Pedophilia’ is not the whole point of the film, the film follows a plot where the rape scene was a must, it was just quite natural. Dakota is an angel, she is a very matured girl for her age. I feel very sorry for her mother, Dakota stay strong and keep going, life has a lot to offer, young lady.